WSJ: Apple to abandon Google Maps on iOS later this year
Apple has made plans to break from Google Maps and use its own technology for the native Maps app on iOS later this year and could announce the feature at next week's Worldwide Developers Conference, according to a new report.
Present and former Apple employees revealed to The Wall Street Journal that the Cupertino, Calif., company is set to bump Google's maps service from its mobile OS. Apple would instead "release a new mapping app that runs Apple's own technology," the report said.
One source suggested that Apple may show off the new software at the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco next week. The company is reportedly looking to convince third-party application developers to implement its technology into their offerings.
The report went on to note that, according to tipsters at Apple, the plan to oust Google Maps has been in motion for years. The rapid rise of Android sales is believed to have quickened the pace of Apple's plans.
The iPhone maker's mapping intentions have been evident since at least 2009, when the company began acquiring mapping technology companies. The iPhone maker bought Placebase that year and then Poly9 in 2010. Last year, Apple bought Swedish 3D-mapping company C3.
The company also revealed last April that it was collecting data for a crowd-sourced "improved traffic service" for iPhone users. Given that the revelation came as a result of a location data controversy, Apple's comments have been taken as referring to street traffic, though the company declined to provide further details.
Small steps have been taken to gradually wean iOS off Google Maps. In 2010, Apple notified U.S. senators that, beginning with iOS 3.2, it had begun relying on "its own databases" for location-based services and diagnostic purposes. In March, it was discovered that Apple had switched to OpenStreetMaps for the maps in its iPhoto iOS app.
Apple's reported switch comes as location services are quickly attracting a significant percentage of advertising dollars. According to the Journal, Opus Research projects map- or location-related ads will comprise 25 percent of the estimated $2.5 billion that will be spent on mobile ads this year. However, the report suggested that Apple's move isn't just about the money.
"But more than ad revenue, Apple is going after the map market to have more control over a key asset in the widening smartphone war," the report read, noting that 90 percent of American iPhone owners use Google Maps. "So Apple believes controlling the mapping experience and offering features that Google doesn't have can help sell more devices and entice developers to build unique apps for iPhone users."
The maps issue has taken on greater importance as the relationship between Apple and Google has become increasingly complicated. The two companies were close partners for years, but have grown apart as they have become fierce competitors in several key markets, such as smartphones, tablets and advertising.
According to the report, Apple became concerned in 2008 that Google may have been compromising user privacy with its map program. Google executives, on the other hand, reportedly felt Apple was being too controlling. The Mountain View, Calif., search company is believed to have angered Apple leaders by withholding the Street View and turn-by-turn navigation features. Its demands were for better branding within the app and incorporation of its Latitude service, which Apple was unwilling to integrate.
The disagreement served as the impetus for Apple CEO Steve Jobs' search for acquisitions to build out the company's own mapping team, the report noted. The group from Poly9 allegedly became a secretive "geo" team within Apple. The employees were said to have built a new geocoder to replace Google's own and began using it last fall.
Google hasn't been sitting still either, though. Last week, the company sent out invites for an event that will show off the "next dimension of Google Maps." The wording of the invite has prompted speculation that the company will announce new 3D features for its mapping service. The event comes just days before Apple kicks off its WWDC confab on June 11.
A bevy of reports have claimed that Apple will take the wraps off a new 3D mapping technology at WWDC. Last month, one report cited sources as saying the solution would "blow your head off."
Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu said last week that his research points to the unveiling of a "greatly enhanced" Maps application with 3D capability next week. The new service has reportedly been developed in-house.
"We hear the key reason why AAPL decided to do this is that it believes it can deliver a much better use experience in Maps, not to mention provide further differentiation for its mobile devices business," Wu said.
Apple is also expected to showcase new Macs, iOS 6 and new camera and photo apps at the conference.
Present and former Apple employees revealed to The Wall Street Journal that the Cupertino, Calif., company is set to bump Google's maps service from its mobile OS. Apple would instead "release a new mapping app that runs Apple's own technology," the report said.
One source suggested that Apple may show off the new software at the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco next week. The company is reportedly looking to convince third-party application developers to implement its technology into their offerings.
The report went on to note that, according to tipsters at Apple, the plan to oust Google Maps has been in motion for years. The rapid rise of Android sales is believed to have quickened the pace of Apple's plans.
The iPhone maker's mapping intentions have been evident since at least 2009, when the company began acquiring mapping technology companies. The iPhone maker bought Placebase that year and then Poly9 in 2010. Last year, Apple bought Swedish 3D-mapping company C3.
The company also revealed last April that it was collecting data for a crowd-sourced "improved traffic service" for iPhone users. Given that the revelation came as a result of a location data controversy, Apple's comments have been taken as referring to street traffic, though the company declined to provide further details.
Small steps have been taken to gradually wean iOS off Google Maps. In 2010, Apple notified U.S. senators that, beginning with iOS 3.2, it had begun relying on "its own databases" for location-based services and diagnostic purposes. In March, it was discovered that Apple had switched to OpenStreetMaps for the maps in its iPhoto iOS app.
Apple's reported switch comes as location services are quickly attracting a significant percentage of advertising dollars. According to the Journal, Opus Research projects map- or location-related ads will comprise 25 percent of the estimated $2.5 billion that will be spent on mobile ads this year. However, the report suggested that Apple's move isn't just about the money.
"But more than ad revenue, Apple is going after the map market to have more control over a key asset in the widening smartphone war," the report read, noting that 90 percent of American iPhone owners use Google Maps. "So Apple believes controlling the mapping experience and offering features that Google doesn't have can help sell more devices and entice developers to build unique apps for iPhone users."
The maps issue has taken on greater importance as the relationship between Apple and Google has become increasingly complicated. The two companies were close partners for years, but have grown apart as they have become fierce competitors in several key markets, such as smartphones, tablets and advertising.
According to the report, Apple became concerned in 2008 that Google may have been compromising user privacy with its map program. Google executives, on the other hand, reportedly felt Apple was being too controlling. The Mountain View, Calif., search company is believed to have angered Apple leaders by withholding the Street View and turn-by-turn navigation features. Its demands were for better branding within the app and incorporation of its Latitude service, which Apple was unwilling to integrate.
The disagreement served as the impetus for Apple CEO Steve Jobs' search for acquisitions to build out the company's own mapping team, the report noted. The group from Poly9 allegedly became a secretive "geo" team within Apple. The employees were said to have built a new geocoder to replace Google's own and began using it last fall.
Google hasn't been sitting still either, though. Last week, the company sent out invites for an event that will show off the "next dimension of Google Maps." The wording of the invite has prompted speculation that the company will announce new 3D features for its mapping service. The event comes just days before Apple kicks off its WWDC confab on June 11.
A bevy of reports have claimed that Apple will take the wraps off a new 3D mapping technology at WWDC. Last month, one report cited sources as saying the solution would "blow your head off."
Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu said last week that his research points to the unveiling of a "greatly enhanced" Maps application with 3D capability next week. The new service has reportedly been developed in-house.
"We hear the key reason why AAPL decided to do this is that it believes it can deliver a much better use experience in Maps, not to mention provide further differentiation for its mobile devices business," Wu said.
Apple is also expected to showcase new Macs, iOS 6 and new camera and photo apps at the conference.
Comments
Apple periodically does maintenance work in off-hours (meaning late night Pacific Time zone). When they add new product, they typically do so during a shutdown during normal business hours (once again Pacific Time zone) on a regular business day.
Adding new product also requires updating the marketing pages on the main Apple corporate site, plus adding press releases, etc. This is almost exclusively done during normal West Coast business hours, when the marketing and PR staffers are awake and at their desks.
To summarize: Apple does not announce new product at 1am Pacific Time.
Apple today announced that it is launching it's own satellite to map the world. It will be called iEye. LOL.
It's only natural. Open Street Maps is killer stuff, as well as Leaflet, and even Yahoo Placefinder has a much more affordable and sensible(!) geocode service.
Live Google Free. It's Possible, Right Now. Take Your First Step Today.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ladybumps
Off topic but store is down.....?
Back up... Father's Day update?
Wonder if Apple has been privy to Google's imminent 3D mapping update before deciding to launch its own this year.
There have been rumors about this for years, I have no doubt that it is finally happening. I also know Apple's record with server-side technologies. Therefore my prediction for this service is: beautiful looking but slow.
I think that Apple's maps will kind of suck at first. I have not seen a better map than google's from anyone, not Yahoo, not Msosft, not Nokia, not Open maps. Nobody matches the searchability, the transit directions, the street view, and most importantly the increadible readability of google maps. It pains me to say this but I am not expecting an improvement over current experience, at least not at first.
• Apple has had lots of time to plan out how their new maps app should appear & function, to beta test & even buy the resources to make this work
• Google has had time to plan & prepare for this, so they are actively ahead of the curve
• Knowing that this has been 1 of their worst kept secrets, Apple is keenly aware that their competition will be updating their service to match, step for step what is known about Apple's planning. It's reasonable that Apple has gone beyond the purchase of these companies & made many secret plans
Cheers !
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lerxt
If the new map software doesn't have a really good offline mode with comprehensive functionality then it won't blow many people's minds. Nokia maps will still be far better. Also if street view isn't has good as Google ditto...
Nokia (Bing) maps aren't that great, I live in a black hole that doesn't exist for them, a blank space on the screen with roads going nowhere.
Google killed Nokia maps by taking away Nokia's plans to monetize maps and recoup their investment in Navteq.
Google is a strangling vine, spreading tendrils into all reaches of the Internet, the way to deal with threat like that is to cut it off at the roots and for Google those roots are advertising dollars.
And what is the world wide map coverage going to be like? How about street view, which is now available for an incredible number of cities around the world?
I hope this move by Apple doesn't put us back 20 years. It would be a reason enough for me to abandon the platform if the maps suck.
Yeah... I would have to agree. The map data in and of itself isn't the whole ball of wax. Street View is especially helpful at times, and it is amazing how far Google has come. Offline would be great as well.
I have to imagine that Google has been putting more resources into Maps than Apple over the past 5 years-- it is hard to imagine how Apple will one-up them on this.
Now, my doubt is, how well mapped are countries other than US, European countries and Japan. I live in the Dominican Republic and Google Maps have almost every street and avenue and a good DB of places. That worries me a little...
Quote:
Originally Posted by aaarrrgggh
Yeah... I would have to agree. The map data in and of itself isn't the whole ball of wax. Street View is especially helpful at times, and it is amazing how far Google has come. Offline would be great as well.
I have to imagine that Google has been putting more resources into Maps than Apple over the past 5 years-- it is hard to imagine how Apple will one-up them on this.
I echo these sentiments. I'm all for Apple improving on stuff I use every day, but if Google does it better, I'm not cool with waiting for Apple to get it right.
From a shareholder perspective, I understand why a lot of you want Apple to beat the crap out of Google at everything.
From an average user perspective, I find Google's services (Maps, Gmail, Drive, Images, search) extremely useful and feel no need to "ween myself off" of them. Why? Privacy concerns? When the shoes on that one drops, it's going to drop on EVERY internet company, not just Google.
Actually, I am expecting to be be blown away by something that far exceeds Google. Apple don't normally enter a new area, be it phones or tablets and now serious mapping, without making everything that went before obsolete.
Of course at first many won't get it, as with iPhone and the 'you can't type with two thumbs on a tiny plastic keyboard' that greeted it, so I fully expect many to scream for a year or two that Apple failed. Only when their favorite products start copying Apple will they change their tune. By which time of course the patent case will be going to court. .
With the list of Apple equipment you show on your footer you write you would abandon the platform over maps. Something doesn't seem quite right there./ smile.